Flushing apparatus for water-closets.



J. B. B. SMITH. FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR WATER CLOS ETS- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. I915.

Patented May 28,1918.

2 SHEETS -SHEET I- J. 8. R. SIVHJTH. 'FLUSHING APPARATUS FOR WATER cLbsETs.

APPLICATION FILED MARHZ L I915.

Patented May 28;,

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3 i 'J QWD: tha OHN 'B- r SMm a aieitizen of the United istates residing at Hamilton, in the county of Baltimore and State f-Maryland, have invented-new and us uLImprovementsiniElu h ng Apparatu for Water Closets, of which theifollowing is ,a specification. his invention reliates toiilnprpvements in flushing apparatus for water closets, "and proposes ax-construction of the frostrproo'f type,;athe chief characteristics of a which are that the flush tank and the water supply and dischargapipes are normally; empty ;-,the admission of water to said tank is controlled hya IIO 'l' IIally closed n1ain*valve which 'i's suitably located underground below the frost line and gthe said main valve employe'd in combination with an :auxiliary valve which is "nornially open but "is :automatioally elosedduring theliperiocl in which the main valve is open-iand iis Fn-sedito eontrol the water: flowing past-the; main yalv'e, caiisingsaidwater to pass: into the'ilnsh tank So longvas the main yalve is open and thereafter and when the-main valve is. closed: per? in'itting it; to, through the' flush, pipe.

The objects ;of the invention, hriefly stated, are" to piioygideia construction-of the type-describ ed'ahavi'ng" improvements in the organization of its parts whereby tliose' parts'wliich are exposed 1 to tho iatmosphere and '-:are1lo cate'd'; adjacent the cl oset bowler lro-prmr' are not subject "to I frost: and are 7 certainiland 1 reliable in their operations at all stinies aand under all; conditions and whereby theflow of water to the closet hofwl :or 'l1ofiiiper;is snidstant'ially free; or unobstructed.

With the above and other obj sets in view the invention consists in certain *detail features of structure, eomhin ation an'd relation which will" be pointed oiit as the description proceeds. n

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated "in the accompanying fidrawings, wherein:..

Figure 1 is a side. elevation illustratingda practical application of the invention wherea in the, opening and closing operations ofithe main and auxiliary valves are controlled by the closet seat FigsiQIand: 3 arevertical;longitudinal sectional tie" s, Fig. show'1n"tl1e valves in their attain giositiene and iiig, stami a:

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the valves in the positions :which they: as- When the-closet seat is depressed;

Fig. 4: is a detailiplan yiewrshowingmore particularly the relation between the flushing apparatus and; thehinged ibracketawhioh carries therclosets'eat;

Eig t is :a detail longitudinal -seotio11al View of tithe upper portion -of 1- the ,flnshing apparatusshowing moreiparticularlyctheiarrangementof:,tl1e, spring by; which the valves are-held in: their normal positions r Fig. }6 :is a detail longitudinal sectional view of the lower portion ofthe 1 flushing apparatus, showing more i particularly the a construction and {relation of the (main and drain malves and of theyinlet and "drain ports. a

P Siniilarcharacters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. a

llhe closet Y bowl 1 Sis; of any suitable; oonstr-u'otion and is equipped with a @seat a2 which (normally occupies ani inolined position. ,The :water which flushes the bowl is stored sin normally empty 1 tank :3 having a i pipe 4: i'through which water ahoth :aenters and discharges from saidatank. The: bowl 1 is equipped 'Fwith' a flush: pipe 5' and theipipes {li and 5 are-connected to aanormally empty "supply; pipe: 6 :which projects fornsome "distanoe unto th'e aground, gnear its flower :end havingva lateraLeo-n-nectmn 7 iwith axwater mam and at 1ts'loiwer end having a :conneetion 8 with a drain pipe. lnthis eonneetion it he! noted that the expression ethepipe fi iisladaptedwto designate all -the assembled alining elements g which extend iloetween the drain connection 18 and the flush; pipe 5 and,

hencepis to be understood -as'inclnding,inot

merely the *Efl'lLlIl section 6*" of r the upi'per :6, but the Valve casing 6 secured at the' lower end "ofqtlie' =seetion G and carrying thereonneetions 7 and '8, the casing 6 froni TWhlOl'l the flush p'ipet5 leads andtlie' amnion 6 which connects the isection 6 and the pipe: l and theiseeti'olrfi 'and the casingfifi The pipe '5' is 'arranged iabove the! pipers; and the pipe 6 is provided intermediatetthe pipes 4 and 5 with ayalve s'eat 9 toicoeaot with a *valve i 10 1 mounted :upon-ra sstem I 111-. The: stem 11 extends through thepipe 6 and carries at its lower l end the rnain'nvalveilfl and the drain *szalve l3. {Eliat portioniof the are secured and which is shown at 11 is suitably connected for universal movement to the; body'of the stem at a point slightly.

above'the main valve 12. The universal connection between the body of the stem 11 and the portion 11* preferably and conveniently conslsts of a transverse pivot pin 1& carried by the part 11" and passing loosely through a Somewhat larger opening in a lug 15 pro vided at the lower end of the body ofthe stem 11. This method of connecting thebody of the stem 11 and the portionll= of y the stem allows of said portion 11 having universal movement within the limits in which such movement may be necessary, un der certain conditions, to insure of the effective'seating of the valves 12 and 13.

The valves 12 and 13 are of piston or cylindrical form, being cupped, and con fronting one another. Said valves are conveniently secured on the stem part 11 by the clamping coaction of washers 16 threaded upon the part 11 and on the'part 11 I That portion of the pipe 6 within which the valves 12 and 13 slide has an internal diameter exactly conforming to the exterpipe 7 tov communicate with the space 18 between the'valves 12 and'13. When the flushing-apparatus isoperated, the valve 12 is moved, as will be hereafter described, to a position below the connection 7, in which position of thevalve 12 said connection 7 communicates freely with the pipe6whereupwardly through the by water from the connection 7 may flow pipe 6 and through the pipe 4 into the tank 3.

,Toinsure of the drainage of the pipe 6 when the valve 12 is in its normal position,

said pipe has its lower portion provided with a by-pass duct 19, the lowerend of which opens into'the pipe 6 at a point be- .low the drain valve 13 in the normal position of said drain valve. 'VVhen the main valve 12 is moved to its lowermost position to. establish communication between the connection 7-and the pipe 6, the drain valve 13 engages an annular or cylindrical seat 20 arranged intermediate the lower end of the duct. 19 and the drain connection 8 and thus prevents water from passingv from said duct to said drain connection. When the ,drainxvalve 13 is in engagement with its seat 20, thelower end of the duct 14 communicates with theaforesaid space 18 between the main and drain valves 12 and 13. -The main valve '12 "is normally in its into the pipe 6 from the connection 7 will pass through the pipe 4; into the tank 3, as

- above described, instead of passing into the hopper.

But when the normal relation of the valves is restored, that is, when the main valve 12 is moved into its normal closed position and the auxiliary valve 10 is moved into its normal open position, the water storedin the tank 3 during the period of closure of the valve 10 flows from said tank through the pipes 1, 6 and 5 into the hopper, flushing the latter.

The stem 11 projects beyond the upper end of the pipe 6 and through a cylindrical head 21 mounted on the upper end of the pipe 6, the head 21 being provided with a stuffing box 22 surrounding said stem and preventing water from flowing into the head 21 from the pipe 6. The stem 11 is operated in one direction by an expansive coil spring 23 and in another direction by the-hinged bracket 24: which carries the seat 2. The spring 23 is arranged within the head 21 in surrounding relation to the stem 11 and bears at its lower end against the base of the head 21 and at its upper end against a collar 25. suitably secured on the stem 11. For the purpose of enabling an operation of said stem by the bracket 24-, the stem carries a hood or equivalent device 26 which surrounds or fits over the head 21 and has at its lower end a circumscribing flange 27 extending under and engageable by the arms of the bracket 24:. The collar 25 is preferably cupped and faces downwardly, its lower portion fitting within the adjacent surrounding face of the head 21.

By arranging the spring 23 above the pipe 6 and by providing against the passage of water from said pipe into the head 21, it is assured that the operation of said spring shall at all times be certain and reliable, since the action of the spring is not affected by the water which passes through the apparatus nor by frost. The arrangement of the spring 23 above the-pipe 6 has a further advantage in that the water which passes to the bowl or hopper to flush the latter has a substantially free or unobstructed flow and, hence, it is assured that the flushing operation shall be highly eflicient both as regards the volume and intensity of the stream.

The operation will be readily apparent from the foregoing description. The spring 23 normally holds the stem 11 and the parts carried thereby in their normally elevated positions wherein the auxiliary valve 10 is open the main valve 12 is closed and the drain valve 13 is open. \Vhen the parts "11 is operated against the tension of the spring 23 by virtue of the engagement of the arms 24 against the flange 27; and said stem and the parts carried thereby are moved into their lowermost positions wherein the auxiliary valve 10 is closed, the main valve 12 is open and the drain valve 13 is closed. lVhen these relations obtain, water flows from the connection 7 through the pipe 6 and into the tank 3, as above explained. Nhen the seat is released and the spring 23 raises the stem 11 and restores the valves 10, 12 and 13 to normal positions, the water which accumulated in the tank 3 during the closure of the valve 10 and the opening of the valve 12 flows from said tank into the hopper, flushing the latter, and the water in the pipe 6 escapes through the duct 19 and drain passage 8.

The valves 12 and 13 by virtue of their cup form and their confronting relation are balanced. In either position of said valves their inner circumferential faces are subject to the prevailing water pressure since in the raised positions of the valves 12 and 13 the space 18 between said valves communicates with the connection 7 and in the lowered position of the valves 12 and 13 the said space 18 communicates with the duct 19. The pressure of the water against the internal faces of the valves 12 and 13 assures of said valves being held securely against the cylindrical face of the lower portion of the pipe 6 and, hence, assures of the effective seating of the valves at all times and under all conditions. A further factor in promoting the eflicient action of the valves 12 and 13 is the universal joint connection above described between the stem part 11 and the body of the stem 11, which enables the part 11 to have such measure of play relatively to the body of the stem 11 as will insure of the engagement of the valves 12 and 13 with the surrounding face of the pipe 6, regardless of wean; and in accurate alinement with the parts which form the lower portion of the pipe 6.

The head 21 has a threaded connection with the pipe 6 and above said pipe is formed with or secured to a nut 29 which is threaded into said pipe. The diameter of the valves 12 and 13 corresponds to the minimum diameter of the pipe 6. It follows, therefore, that when the nut 29 is unscrewed from the-pipe 6, the working parts of the apparatus, comprising the stem 11 and the valves 10, 12 and 13, together with the head 21, the spring 23, the collar 25 and the hood 26 may be removed as a unit for &

such purposes as may be desired. The unit comprising the parts specified may be replaced in the pipe 6 with equal facility and secured in position merely by screwing the nut 29 into the upper end of said pipe.

1I -Iaving fully described my invention, I 0 aim 1. In a frost-proof-closet, the combina tion with a supply pipe, a tank, a pipe connecting the tank and the supply pipe, a closet bowl, and a flush pipe connecting the supply pipe and the closet bowl, the supply pipe having a valve seat between the flush pipe and the pipe which leads to the tank, of a valve working in relation to said seat, a stem carrying said valve, a head mounted on the upper end of the supply pipe, the stem projecting into said head, a stuffing box associated with the base of the head and surroundin the stem, a collar mounted on the stem within the head, a coil spring for holding the valve in normal position and surrounding the stem within the head, one end of said spring bearing against the base of the head and the other end of said spring bearing against said collar, a hood secured upon the upper end of the stem and fitting over said head, the hood having a flange at its lower end and a hinged seat-carrying bracket having its arms arranged to engage said flanges.

2. In a frost-proof closet, the combination with a supply pipe, a tank, a pipe connecting the tank and the supply pipe, a closet bowl, and a flush pipe connecting the supply pipe and the closet bowl, the supply pipe having a valve seat between the flush pipe and the pipe which leads to the tank, of a valve working in relation to said seat, a stem carrying said valve, a head mounted on the upper end of the supply pipe, the stem projecting into said head, a stuffing box associated with the base of the head and surrounding the stem, a collar mounted on the stem within the head, and a coil spring for holding the valve in normal position and surrounding the stem within the head, one end of said spring bearing against the face of the head and the other end of said spring bearing against said collar, the head being threaded into said supply pipe, and having its base formed as a nut whereby the head, the parts inclosed therein, the stem, and the valve mounted upon said stem may be re moved from and replaced into said supply pipe as a unit.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN B. R. SMITH.

Witnesses:

J. W. DAVIS, O. L. Bowen's.

Series or this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Gemmittiencr' ct Patents,

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